Current Affairs - National

India plans to test Japan’s E5 Shinkansen bullet train on the Mumbai–Ahmedabad corridor, which is part of its high-speed rail initiative. This 508-km route is the designated stretch for the trial and eventual commercial use of both E5 and the upcoming E10 (Alfa-X) Shinkansen, which is expected to run by 2030. The corridor is a key part of India’s transportation modernisation efforts, with trains designed to operate at very high speeds using advanced technology like Automatic Train Control (ATC), eliminating the need for traditional trackside signals.

Arthunkal Police Station, located in the Alappuzha district of Kerala, made history by becoming India’s first police station to earn the IS/ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System certification from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). The certification, awarded on July 10, 2025, acknowledges the station's excellence in crime prevention, investigation, public grievance redressal, and community policing. The recognition aligns with Kerala Police’s broader initiative to modernise policing under the Modernised Cherthala Police Programme. This achievement sets a national benchmark, highlighting how structured reforms and adherence to global quality standards can elevate public trust and operational efficiency in law enforcement.

The Trade Facilitation Conference 2025 was inaugurated by Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary on July 12, 2025, in New Delhi. The event, themed “Scientific Excellence for Seamless Trade,” focused on enhancing India's trade mechanisms through improved testing and compliance systems. It was organised by the Central Revenues Control Laboratory (CRCL) and the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC). The choice of New Delhi as the venue underscores its status as a hub for major government-led initiatives and international conferences, especially those related to finance and trade development.

India’s men’s football team dropped to the 133rd position in the July 2025 FIFA world rankings, marking its lowest placement since December 2016. This steep decline followed two back-to-back losses in June — a 0-2 defeat to Thailand and a 0-1 loss to Hong Kong. As a result, India fell six spots from its previous rank of 127 and also experienced a drop in rating points from 1132.03 to 1113.22. The team’s recent poor form, including just one win in eight matches, led to the departure of head coach Manolo Marquez and has raised concerns about India’s prospects in the upcoming AFC Asian Cup qualifiers.

Ujjain is the city chosen for the establishment of a new Akashvani Kendra as part of the Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development (BIND) scheme. This initiative, launched in January 2023 by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, aims to enhance the broadcasting capabilities of Prasar Bharati. The BIND scheme, with an approved financial outlay of ₹2,539.61 crore, is focused on upgrading and expanding infrastructure across the country to improve public broadcasting services. The selection of Ujjain signifies the government's commitment to decentralize broadcasting facilities and promoting regional connectivity in information dissemination.